Is Facial Recognition Tech In Your Ballpark’s Future? MLB Thinks So

The next big wave of technology at the ballpark could be facial recognition, as MLB and Tickets.com are working with CLEAR to introduce biometric ticketing at participating ballparks in 2019.

This new partnership will extend Tickets.com’s API to CLEAR’s biometrics systems, allowing CLEAR members who link their CLEAR profile with their MLB.com account to gain entry with just the tap of a finger or, in the near future, facial recognition technology. This new biometric ticketing technology will be piloted at select MLB ballparks later this season, with broader roll-out to CLEAR and Tickets.com-enabled ballparks beginning in 2019. Tickets.com, an MLB wholly owned ticketing technology company, is the primary ticketing partner for 23 MLB Clubs. With this partnership, CLEAR becomes the Official Biometric Identity and Ticketing Partner of Major League Baseball.

CLEAR is also working with MLB to roll out CLEAR Lanes at ballparks hosting MLB Jewel Events, offering fans a secure entry experience. This year, these events will include MLB All-Star Week ballpark events at Nationals Park, and Postseason games at participating ballparks.

“We are thrilled to partner with MLB to make game days more enjoyable and secure for fans with biometric ticketing,” said Caryn Seidman-Becker, CEO & Co-Founder of CLEAR. “We look forward to continuing to innovate alongside the League and the sports community to transform the fan experience from ticketing to concessions and more.”

“Our collaboration with CLEAR is an important new technology initiative, delivering safe, simple and seamless experiences for fans,” said Noah Garden, EVP, Business, Major League Baseball. “Developing a partnership that will unify emerging identity technology and ticketing is reflective of our commitments to always improving ballpark accessibility and maintaining critical security standards.”

CLEAR’s platform is currently used by nine MLB clubs, among its 13 professional sports partnerships. CLEAR will also soon unveil new biometric-powered concessions in the state of Washington, enabling fans to pay for food, beer and validate legal age with just the tap of a finger or blink of an eye.

Enrollment for CLEAR Sports is free at any participating venue, takes less than five minutes and can be used at the game immediately.

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